Apparatus for the deposition of liquid materials



Nov. 29, 1960 J. C. SANDERSON APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF LIQUID MATERIALS 5 Sheehs-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1958 ATTORNEY DVVENTOR Nov. 29, W60 J c. SANDERSON 2,961,949

APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION F LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 Sheets-Sheet 2 i W 5 5\ ,r/ 6/ INVENTOR yww -fl BY 7217/ QM A TTORNE Nov. 29, 1960 J. c. SANDERSON 2,961,949 APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lA/VENTDR MAW ATTORNE) Nov. 29, 1960 J. c. SANDERSON APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR MCM Nov. 29, 1960 J. c. SANDERSON 2,961,949

APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR ,4 T TOR/UE United States Pater 2,961,949 Patented Nov. 29; 196.0

APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION F LIQUID MATERIALS James C. Sanderson, Kensington, London, England, as-

signor t0 McCorquodale Colour Display Limited, Lon don, England Filed Aug. 4, 1958,'Ser. No. 752,919

Claims. (Cl. 101-163) The present inventionrelates to improvements in and relating to apparatus forthe deposition of thin layers of paints, inks and other liquid materials in accurately defined areas on surfaces, the apparatus being of the'kind in which the surface to receive the deposit is brought into contact with the operative face of a matrix having a number of shallow cavities in that face for the reception of materials to be deposited introduced through conduits leading through the matrix to'the cavities so that deposition takes place on the surface in patches or areas defined by the boundaries of the cavities in the matrix.

The materials to be deposited are such as will remain in the accurately defined areas in which they have been deposited when the surface and matrix are separated.

The method of deposition as outlined above is employed in the production of such articles as colour cards as used by the customers of paint suppliers in the selection of paint colours, and the apparatus used consists of a frame structure supporting the usually fixed matrix and containing a platen arranged for rising and falling movements and suitable to urge a: sheet of paper, card or the like with pressure against the operative face of the matrix in such a manner as to seal the cavities therein. A plurality of tubes for the liquid to be deposited extend between reservoirs and the matrix and a set of controls such as valves or pumps are provided to control the How of liquidt'from' the reservoirsthrough the tubes to the cavities in the matrix when the cavities are closed by an applied sheet.

In some cases the reservoirs for liquid are carried on the same frame structure while in others they are carried on a separate support located in an appropriate position relative to the frame structure.

The operations involved in effecting a change over after completion of one job by the machine such as the production of one form of colour card to another job such as the production of another form of colour card, are numerous and require much skill, care and time. It is necessary to change the reservoirs, disconnect and un couple tubes and valves or pumps from each other and from theused matrix, remove the used matrix and to clean all these parts, many of which may be needed for the new job, and thereafterv mount the cleaned or a fresh matrix and couple up the cleanedaor substitute tubes and control devices to provide feed communication between appropriate cavities in the matrix and correspondingly appropriate reservoirs for the liquidof selected colours to be deposited.

It isan; object ofthe-invention'to provide an improved apparatuswhich enables-longinterruptions in-the useful operationaliproduction time-of the'apparatus-due to the time involved in changing. over from one job to another tobe largelyavoided.

In accordance: with g the present'invention anapparatus of. the kind indicated above-is provided comprising a frame structure, hereinafter termed the main frame structure, formed of; upperand lower parts capableof being connected with and disconnected from one another, the lower part accommodating a rising and falling platen and the upper part supporting a matrix and liquid supply tubes and valves, pumps or like liquid flow control means in association with said matrix, in combination with a secondary separate frame structure substantially similar to the lower part of the first mentioned frame structure and conveyor means embodying lifting gear to lift the upper part of the first mentioned frame structure and the parts supported thereby from engagement with the lower part of that frame structure and to transport the said lifted upper part and lower it into a position for connected engagement with said secondary separate frame structure.

In some cases the reservoirs for the liquid to be deposited are supported by a platform or the like fixed to the upper part of the main frame structure but in the at present preferred arrangement the reservoirs which may be of very large aggregate weight, are supported on a platform carried in a readily detachable manner on fixed supports above and separate from the main. frame structure.

The invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing one form of the deposition apparatus to which the invention relates, and transporter and lifting means.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the secondary frame structure.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the transporter.

Fig. 4 is a view in part sectional side elevation showing the deposition apparatus and the transporter in position with the upper part of the main frame structure lifted.

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation looking from the right hand end of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is-a view in sectionalelevation and one larger scale showing a quick-release coupling for use between the upper part of the main frame structure and the lower part of the main frame structure or the secondary frame structure; I

Fig. 7 is a part sectional plan view of Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 is asectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings deposition apparatus shown comprises a mainframe structure 1 anchored to the floor and formed by four vertical posts 2 surmounted by a rigidhead frame 3. To the underside of the head frame 3 is an'ohoreda matrix of well known form comprising a rigid metal block 4 anchored to the head frame 3 by; brackets 5; in the under face of which block 4 are formed distributed shallow recesses (not shown) of a shape corresponding to that of the patches of liquid to be deposited. 7

On supports 6 fixed to' the upper side of the head frame 3 are carried a plurality of pumps 7 the inlets of which are connected by couplings 8 with pipes 9 leading from reservoirs 10 carried upon a platform. 11, resting by two of its edges upon parallel angle-section supports 3'2 fixed to the building structure in a position above the, pumps 7 and extendingin the longitudinal directionof the deposition apparatus. The delivery ends of, the pumps 7 are connected through couplings 12 with pipes 13 connected with passages through the body of the matrix 4 leading to the cavities in the underface thereof.

In the space bounded by the vertical posts 2 is mounted a platen 14 capable of guided rising and falling movements imparted thereto, in the case illustrated by an hydraulic ram 15.

Sheets of paper, card or the like to receive the deposited liquid are placed upon the platen 14 with the latter in a lowered position and the platen then raised to urge; the sheet into cavity-sealing.engagementwith the underface of the matrix. With the sheet held in such;

cavity-sealing engagement the pumps are operated to deliver charges of liquid from the reservoirs to fill the cavities in the matrix. Thereafter the platen 14 is lowered to separate the sheet with the deposit thereon from the matrix 4 and permit the sheet to be removed from the platen.

-For the purpose of changing over to a new job involving the production of a different form of colour card or sheet it is necessary to remove and thoroughly clean the used matrix 4 and usually to substitute another as well as to disconnect and thoroughly clean the pumps 7 and all the pipes 9 and 13 and also to clean all reservoirs 10 or to substitute a set of replacement reservoirs containing liquid of the required new colours.

Such operations call for skill, great care and much time and with the apparatus hitherto available this has involved long periods of idle or inoperative time for the apparatus during which production is halted.

It is the primary object of the present invention to enable the idle or inoperative time of the deposition apparatus to be reduced to a minimum.

For this purpose a main frame structure 1 is employed comprising a lower part including the four posts 2 and accommodating the rising and falling platen 14, and an upper part comprising the head frame 3 to which are connected the matrix 4, the pumps 7, the pipes 13 and indirectly the pipes 9 in the above described manner, the head frame 3 being connected with the lower part in a readily detachable manner.

This two-part main frame structure is used in conjunction with one or more secondary frame structures such as is shown in Fig. 2, and comprising four vertical posts 16 and a rising and falling platen 17 of similar form and relative disposition as the vertical posts 2 and the platen 14 of the lower part of the main frame struct-ure 1, and also with one or more conveyor and lifting devices such as is shown in Fig. 3 whereby the upper part of the main frame structure after disconnection from the lower part may be lifted from the lower part and transferred to the secondary frame structure and an already prepared or made-ready substitute upper part of the main frame structure applied to and connected with the lower part of the main frame structure in readiness for resumption of production operations.

A suitable quick-release coupling for use between the head frame 3 of the upper part of the main frame structure and the vertical posts 2 of the lower part of the main frame structure or vertical posts 16 of the secondary structure is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The upper ends of the vertical posts 2 and 16 are fitted with hollow extension pieces 18 screwed at their lower ends on to reduced and threaded ends 19 of the posts and shaped internally at their upper ends to form transversely elongated apertures 20 having an undercut shoulder 21 on each side of their lower ends, the shoulders being spaced from the extremities of the ends 19 of the vertical posts as shown in Fig. 6.

The upper ends of the extension pieces 18 are reduced in diameter to form spigots 22 for locating engagement in the lower enlarged ends 23 of counterbored holes 24 formed in the four corners of the head frame 3 forming part of the upper part of the two-part main frame structure 1.

The upper ends 25 of the holes 24 are also enlarged for the reception and location of flanged bushes 26 and a shallow groove 27 is formed diametrically across the upper surface of each flanged bush 26.

T-head tie bolts 28 are mounted head downwards in the holes 24 and bushes 26 in the head frame 3, the heads 29 of the bolts being capable of passing through the elongated holes 20 in the extension pieces 18.

The tie bolts 28 are provided with rectangular holes 30 above the head frame 3 through which extend tapered cotters 31 slidable in the shallow grooves 27 in the upper faces of the flanged bushes 26.

In the position shown in Fig. 6 the lower ends 23 of the holes 24 in the head frame 3 are engaged and located by the spigots 22 on the extension pieces 18 on the vertical posts and with the heads 29 of the tie bolts 28 engaged beneath the shoulders 21 in the extension pieces 18 and the cotters 31 driven home through the holes 30 in the tie bolts 23 as shown the upper part of the main frame structure is held firmly connected with the lower part and the lower edges of the cotters 31 being engaged in the shallow grooves 27 ensures that inadvertent rotation of the tie bolts 28 and possible disengagement of the heads 29 of the tie bolts from the shoulders 21 in the extensions 18 of the vertical posts cannot occur.

By knocking back the cotters 31 the lower edges thereof can be disengaged from the grooves 27 so that the tie bolts 28 can be rotated to a position in which the tie bolt heads 29 are disengaged from the shoulders 21 and can pass through the elongated holes 20 (Fig. 8) in the extensions 18 so that the upper part of the main frame structure is made free to be lifted together with the tie bolts 28 from the lower part of the main frame structure and transferred to the secondary frame structure (Fig. 2) with which it is fixedly connected by a sequence of operations the reverse of that described above.

The means for lifting and lowering the upper part of the main frame structure and carrying it to and fro between the normal operative position on the lower part of the main structure and the make-ready position on the secondary frame structure may consist of an open wheeled trolley of a form conforming to three sides of a rectangle in plan so that the trolley can be wheeled into a position with two sides of the trolley embracing the main frame structure, and of a height to extend above the pumps 7 and to within a short distance of the underside of the reservoir-holding platform 11.

The trolley 33 consists of four vertical corner tubes 34 interconnected at each side by longitudinal bracing tubes 35 and 36 and at one end of the trolley by transverse bracing tubes 37 and 38.

On the inner sides of the upper longitudinal tubes 36 are fixedly mounted pairs of spaced guide pulleys 39 and 40 for pairs of flexible cables 41 and 42 led over further twin guide pulleys 43 mounted near the upper ends of the corner tubes 34 at the closed end of the trolley, to winding drums 44 fixedly mounted on a common cross shaft 45 capable of being driven by a chain 46 and sprocket 47 from a motor 48 mounted on the trolley and capable of being driven either by means of a hand crank 49 or from a compressed air line 50 or other power source.

To the depending free ends of the cables 41 and 42 at each side of the trolley are connected a pair of transversely extending stiff steel bars 51 and 52 each having two spaced notches 53 formed in their upper edges for engagement beneath pairs of headed studs 54 fixed in the front and rear edge faces of the head frame 3 forming part of the upper part of the main frame structure.

In the upper ends of the vertical corner tubes 34 are mounted fixed sleeves 55 (Fig. 4) forming guides for vertically movable plungers 56 having flanges 57 near to but spaced from their upper ends 58, and the platform 11 supporting the reservoirs 10 is provided near its corners with holes 59 of a size to receive the upper ends 58 of the plungers 56.

In a bearing 60 on each vertical post 54 is mounted a bell crank lever 61 one arm 62 of which extends through a hole in the wall of the related tube 34 into engagement beneath the lower end of the plunger 56 in that tube. The other arms 63 of the two levers 61 on each side of the trolley are pivotally connected by a horizontal tie rod 64, and on these tie rods 64 are fixed blocks 65 adjustable longitudinally of the tie rods and each having an aperture through which passes the horizontal section of one of the flexible cables 41. On the cables 41 are fixed stops 66 for engagement with the blocks 65 so that after a movement of the cables 41 of predetermined extent the stops66, engage the blocks- 6,5,1and move the tie bars 64. to rock, the levers 61 and lift the plungers 56, thereby engaging the ends, 58 of the plungers in the holes 59 in the platform 11 and the flanges 57 on the plungers with the underside of the platform 11 to disengage the latter from the supports. 32" and transfer the Weight of the platform 11 and the liquid reservoirs to the trolley.

Castor wheels 67 are provided at the lower ends of the vertical posts 34' the wheels'67 at the closed end of the trolley beingsteerable by means to a hand wheel 68 mounted on thetrolley.

The wheels 67 at the open endof the trolley maybe driven by chainand sprocket drive from compressed air motors 69 mounted on the-trolley.

On completion of one job by the deposition apparatus, the trolley with the cables; 41 and 42 unwound, from the drums 44 and the plungers 56 in lowered position is moved into position with the sides of the trolley along each side of the apparatus.v

The tapered cotters 31' are knocked back and the tie bolts 28 rotated to release the coupling between the head frame 3 and the vertical posts 2 as previously described, the stiff bars 52 made to engage through their notches 53 with the headed studs 34-on the head frame 3 and the cross shaft 45 driven to wind the cables 41 and42 on to the drums 44-;

Thus the upper part ofthe main frame structure comprising the head frame, 3 and the parts carried thereby including the matrix 4, the pumps 7 and the tubes 13 and 9 are lifted and Separated from the lower part of the main frame structure, the tie bolts 28. lifting with the head frame to disengage the heads 29 of the tie bolts from the hollow extensions 18 on the posts 2..

When or soon after the separation is completed the stops 66 on the cables engage the blocks 65 on the tie rods 64 and the latter are moved horizontally to rock the bell crank levers 61 in the direction to raise the plungers 56. The upper ends 58 of the plungers 56 enter the holes 59 in the reservoir-holding platform 11 and the flanges 57 engage the underside of the platform 11 so that the latter is raised from the fixed supports 32 and the weight of the platform 11 and the reservoirs 10 is now taken by the trolley.

When as is sometimes the case the pumps 7 are hydraulically operated from an external source of hydraulic pressure it is necessary to disconnect the hydraulic pipe lines to and from the pumps for which purpose any convenient form of quick-release coupling means may be provided.

The trolley is now moved on its own wheels 67 to a position in which the removed upper main frame structure is over the secondary or make-ready frame structure and the upper part of the main frame structure lowered on to the secondary frame structure and connected there with by the tie bolts 28 and cotters 31.

The early part of the lowering movement permits the plungers 56 to move downwards together with the platform 11 and the platform may either be deposited as the plungers withdraw downwards on supports similar to the supports 32, provided adjacent the secondary frame structure or it may remain supported by the plungers themselves in the lowered position of the latter, the upper ends 58 of the plungers remaining engaged in the holes 59 in the platform,

In the former case the same trolley or in the latter case a further similar trolley takes up an already made-ready upper part of a main frame structure from another secondary frame structure and is used to transport it and lower it into position for connection with the lower part of the main frame structure so that production can recommence Whilst disassembly, cleaning, changing and re assembly of the previously removed upper part of the main frame structure is proceeding.

Since the operation of make-ready requires only a few trial engagement of sheets with the face of the matrix at h ake eadx s ation, he need for an automatical y controlled hydraulic, or other platenrmoving means does not exist at. the make-ready station and a simple hand? operated'forrn of platen-moving mechanism will sufiice for use withthe secondary frame, structure at the makeready station.

I claim:

1. Inapparatus for the deposition, of thin layers of liquidin accurately defined areas on surfacesF whilst. the said surfaces are held in sealing contactwith a eavitated face of a matrix and the liquid is introduced under pressure through conduits leading through the matrix to the cavities, the-combination of a first structure including a lower rigid frame part having a platen mounted therein for rising and falling movement, an upper rigid frame part and a matrix,liguid supply, tubes-and liquid flow control. means allcarriedby said upper rigid frame part, and quick-releasable coupling means including coupling elements on the lower rigid frame partand complemental couplingelements onthe upper-rigidframepart and conmeeting. said lower and upper rigid frame parts. in predetermined fixed and rigid positional relationship forming said first structure; a separate second structure substantially similar to the lowerrigid frame part of the said first structure and including a, platen mounted therein for rising and falling movement in said separate second structure, and a conveyor and lifting gear mounted on said conveyor to lift the said upper rigid frame part andthe devices carried thereby fromthe lower rigid frame part after disengagement of the said quick-releasable coupling means of thefirststructure and for transporting the said lifted parts into engagement with the separate second structure, said. second structure having c upling elements substantially like thecoupling elements on thesaid lower rigid framepart ofthe first structure and'properly positioned for inter-engagement with the complemental coupling elements on the said upper rigid frame part of the first structure for effecting a detachable rigid connection between said upper rigid frame part of the first structure with said second structure and supporting the matrix carried by the said upper rigid frame part in the same positional relationship with the platen of the second structure as with the platen of the first structure.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises a wheeled rigid frame of U-form in plan capable of location with the sides of the U embracing the said first structure and of a height to extend above the said first structure in the operative position of the latter, said lifting gear being carried on said Wheeled rigid frame and comprising lifting parts for temporary attachment to the upper rigid frame part of the first structure, cables connected with said lifting parts, and winding drums for said cables carried on said wheeled rigid frame.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower rigid frame part of the first structure and said separate second structure each include a similar number of similar and similarly distributed vertical pillars with the vertically movable platen located between the distributed pillars of each, and said coupling elements on both said rigid lower frame part and on said separate second struc ture comprising hollow extensions at the upper ends of the said pillars presenting downwardly directed discontinuous shoulders, headed tie bolts rotatably mounted in holes in the said upper rigid frame part and making, in one position of said tie bolts in said holes in the upper rigid frame part, retaining engagement between the heads of said tie bolts and said shoulders and, in another position in said holes in the upper rigid frame part, are disengaged from said shoulders and are free to be withdrawn from the hollow extensions of the pillars, and tapered cotters extending through transverse holes in the ends of said tie bolts above a part of the upper rigid frame part and engaging, when driven, in grooves in the upper surface of said part of the said uper rigid frame part to effect predetermined fixed and rigid positional relationship between the upper rigid frame part and the lower rigid frame part of the first structure or between the upper rigid frame part and the separate second structure respectively.

4. In apparatus for the deposition of thin layers of liquid in accurately defined areas on surfaces whilst the said surfaces are held in sealing contact with a cavitated face of a matrix and the liquid is introduced under pressure through conduits leading through the matrix to the cavities, the combination of a first structure including a lower rigid frame part having a platen mounted therein for rising and falling movement, an upper rigid frame part and a matrix, liquid supply tubes and liquid flow control means all carried by said upper rigid frame part, and quick-releasable coupling means including coupling elements on the lower rigid frame part and complemental coupling elements on the upper rigid frame part and connecting said lower and upper rigid frame parts in predetermined fixed and rigid positional relationship forming said first structure, a movable platform, a support carry ing said movable platform in a position above said first structure, a plurality of liquid reservoirs carried on said movable platform and being connected to said liquid supply tubes, a separate second structure substantially similar to the lower rigid frame part of the said first structure and including a platen mounted therein for rising and falling movement in said separate second structure, and a conveyor, and lifting gear on said conveyor for first lifting said upper rigid frame part and the devices carried thereby from the lower frame part after disengagement of the said quick-releasable coupling means of the said first structure and for thereafter engaging and lifting said platform and transporting the said upper rigid frame and the parts carried thereby and the said platform and the reservoirs carried thereon to position said upper rigid frame part into engagement with the separate second structure for rigid connection therewith, said second structure having coupling elements substantially like the coupling elements on the said lower rigid frame part of the first structure and properly positioned for interengagement with the complemental coupling elements on the said upper rigid frame part of the first structure for effecting a detachable rigid connection between said upper rigid frame part of the first structure with said second structure and supporting the matrix carried by the said upper rigid frame part in the same positional relationship with the platen of the second structure as with the platen of the first structure.

, 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conveyor comprises a wheeled rigid frame of U-form in plan capable of location with the sides of the U embracing the said first structure and of a height to extend above the said first structure in the operative position of the latter, said lifting gear being carried on said wheeled rigid frame and comprising lifting parts for temporary attachment to the upper rigid frame part of the first structure, vertically movable plungers on the upper end of the conveyor, cables connected with said lifting parts and with said plungers to first raise said upper frame part and thereafter raise said plungers into lifting engagement with said platform to raise said platform and the liquid reservoirs supported thereon, and winding drums for said cables carried on said wheeled rigid frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

